Merleau-Ponty and Theology - (Philosophy and Theology) by Christopher Ben Simpson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

The philosophical contributions of French phenomenologist, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, carry great untapped potential for theologians thinking through some of the central affirmations of the Christian faith. This exploration is structured against the background of the fundamental interrelation between three "bodies" in Merleau-Ponty's thought and in Christian theology: the material as such or "nature" (the corporeal), the human body as a living body (the corporal), and the social body (the corporate-including language and tradition). Merleau-Ponty's philosophy offers a finessed and non-reductionistic understanding of the relations between these orders of bodies. Appropriating Merleau-Ponty's thought helps one think through Christian doctrines of creation, theological anthropology, Christology, ecclesiology, and eschatology.

Review Quotes

[This book] is a welcome addition ... the first book length study to bring theology into conversation with Merleau-Ponty's thought.
Theologische Literaturzeitung

A welcome contribution ... Simpson's scholarly work here can serve as a highly useful introduction to
Merleau-Ponty's thought for theologians, and as a reference to the points of contact between his
philosophy and theology.
Modern Theology

Simpson's firm command of the works of both Merleau-Ponty and the early church theologians enables him to clearly explicate the two and bring them together in a conversation beneficial to graduate students and scholars at
seminaries and universities who are interested in the interplay between theology and contemporary philosophy.
Theological Book Review

About the Author

Christopher Ben Simpson is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology at Lincoln Christian University, USA.